Australian committee to meet on tax breaks

The possibility of government tax breaks for videogame developers in Australia took a step closer to realisation earlier today as Senator Stephen Conroy met with the Game Developers' Association of Australia following up on a pre-election promise.

Senator Conroy had previously agreed to set up a high level committee to examine the tax rebate situation, and GDAA CEO Greg Bondar said after the meeting: "We were warmly greeted by the minister and he has commenced putting in place arrangements for the establishment of the high level committee at which game developers can put their case for a tax rebate."

Tom Crago, CEO of Melbourne-based Tantalus was also present at the meeting.

Australia is one of a number of countries whose development community is lobbying the government for financial support, in attempts to bring them parity with companies based in Canada and Singapore which receive significant incentives.